Dubai's fast-growing airline Emirates is kicking off the Mideast city's airshow with an order for 50 Boeing 777s.

The list price for the deal is US$18 billion, but airlines typically negotiate discounts for large orders. The announcement was made Sunday by Emirates chairman and CEO Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Emirates is the Middle East's largest carrier. It is owned by the government of Dubai, which is recovering from a debt-fueled financial crisis that came to a head two years ago.

The carrier is Boeing's largest customer for the wide-body 777. Its young fleet also includes Airbus A330s and A340s, and the double-decker A380.